Your Life-Your Choice ISSN 1488-0253 ==================== May, 2000 Issue 52 Letter from the Editor We're back for another information packed issue of Your Life-Your Choice. Our main objective is to sort through all the scams, stories, and news to provide you with credible information about alternative medicine. With that in mind, I'm going to share with you a situation that I have recently encountered. I'm always searching for good sources of information for the benefit of our subscribers and members. Dr. Whitaker's Health and Healing Newsletter seemed to be one of those sources. I phoned their sales line with the intention of subscribing. The salesman was very pleasant, and told me that the subscription was $39.95 for one year. I asked him if that was in Canadian funds. He answered "No, that's U.S. funds. The Canadian price is $79.95 plus tax, plus." I asked him why the Canadian price was so high when adding the exchange rate to $39.95 would total approximately $57.72. He confirmed that it was the correct price and gave me the phone number for customer service. As per his suggestion, I did call customer service and spoke to the manager on duty. I explained to her that I couldn't understand why the Canadian price was double that of the same product in the U.S. when we receive exactly the same product with no additional issues. I do understand that the exchange rate requires a higher price for Canadians, but this is literally DOUBLE the exchange rate. Her response was that the company was simply covering the fluctuation of the exchange rates. I told her that I also deal with exchange rates in my business. About every 6 months I phone the bank and get the current rate and use that as a guide for the next few months. However, when it comes to billing, my customers are billed the exact rate that day by their charge card company. It's been my experience that the exchange rate doesn't fluctuate THAT much. However, to charge DOUBLE the exchange rate, in my opinion, is not "covering the range". It is using the exchange rate as an excuse to take unfair advantage of Canadians. At this point she could only say was that this was a decision made by the company long before she was hired and there was nothing she could do about it. I explained to her that I believed this practice to be highly unethical and simply bad business and on principle alone I would not order this newsletter, and we politely parted ways. Immediately I sent an e-mail to Dr. Whitaker explaining my concern and the situation as it had transpired. I also explained that I felt a responsibility to publish this story in Your Life-Your Choice and offered to include any comments he may have. That was April 13, and as of this publication, I have not received a response from him. Now, I suppose I could look at it from the perspective of perhaps the information is worth paying twice as much as a U.S. customer, and it may well be. But I wonder how often someone has gone into a store and offered to pay twice as much for a product as the customer before him/her. As a U.S. based company, they made a decision that fair value for their product was $39.95. There was nothing added to this product to increase its' value once it came to Canada. Why should Canadians pay more for a product (other than the legal exchange rate) than the value established by the company itself? This type of action makes me question the credibility of a company who would consciously take unfair and unnecessary advantage of the very people they claim to help. I wrote this editorial is to make everyone aware of these kinds of injustices . Companies get away with it because consumers let them. We don't question them, and we pay their inflated prices. Before making an investment of this nature, I encourage you to ask the company what the charge is for their product in their home country. Compare that rate, after you've converted it your currency, and see if the price they've quoted you is reasonable. If it's not, you have two choices. You can either refuse to purchase their product, and if so be sure to tell them why. Or you can purchase it anyway, but at least you'll be aware that you've been taken advantage of. Until next time, best of health to you. Brigitte Synesael Editor of Your Life-Your Choice Make it your business to be informed! No on cares more about you than YOU. ********************************************** ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE: 1. Announcement 2. Aloe Vera 3. Massage Therapy As A Holistic Healing Tool for Breast Cancer and Heart Disease 4. How to Reframe for Success 5. Health Smart Recipe -Barbecued Mushrooms 6. Talk to the GARLIC ******************************************** Section 1 Announcement We had some trouble in our last issue with some of the links not showing up. My apologies for that inconvenience, and thank you to those who brought it to our attention. The ads that were missing links have been repeated. For those interested in comparing book prices through Deal Pilot can do so here: http://www.Life-Choices.com/bookstore.html ******************************************** Section 2 ALOE VERA by Joan Vankoughnett It seems that everywhere nature has aid and comfort for human beings, as well as for birds and animals. They know instinctively where to seek their "medicine" and when. Man had not been so intuitive, or at least not in this century when chemistry has been king. Aloe vera has probably been the most widely used through- out history. The Bible mentions aloes in at least three places, (John 19:39, Numbers 24:6 and Proverbs 7:17) Here are some of the ways Aloe Vera has been used in bygone days. 1. The Chinese, who consider the Aloe Vera sacred, used it for stomach and colon ailments 2. People of the Congo, used it to reduce body odour in stalking wild game and for boils on the skin. 3. In the Philippines, it is used with milk for dysentery and kidney infections. 4. Mexicans use it to relieve epysipelas, (a skin disease)and for the scalp & hair in the form of a shampoo & conditioner which leaves them with healthy, uxurious & shining hair. 5. Ancient Egyptians used Aloe to stop bleeding wounds smooth scaling & itching skin. They used it for sunburns and a non-oily skin moisturizer, to retard the aging process. In the aloe species, there is only one Aloe Vera. Aloe Vera looks like cactus, but is a member of the lily family, as is the onion, another cousin. It can be identified by its dark green stiff triangular leaves which form a rosette from the basal centre. The leaves have sharp pointed teeth on the edges and it gives the impression of growing directly out of the ground, as there is no apparent stalk. For best results, Aloe Vera Juice is processed under the strictest clean room conditions. The leaf is filled so that only 100% of the clean fresh juice is used. None of the outer green peeling or deep yellow substance, next to the peeling (Aloin) is allowed to remain. This substance is very bitter and is a high irritant. After filleting, the gel is chapped and the juice starts its own digesting process and becomes very thin and slimy. No heat or pasteurization is used so that none of the vitamins, essential minerals, amino acids and enzymes are destroyed. No thickeners are added. Aloe Vera Juice has become a refreshing, invigorating and thirst quenching drink or juice. It may be safely consumed in quantities. The list of experiences with healing by application of Aloe juice, gel or its preparations is very long. Here is a summary: Poison Ivy Bites from insects Acne, psoriasis, itches, exzema, erysipelas, rheumatism & inflamed joints problems caused by protozoa, virus & fungi dysentery -- add gel to milk boils and abcesses stomach ulcers liver toxicity corns & calluses aching feet cosmetic scalp cleansing baldness purify drinking water antibiotic astringent lotion healing torn teat of animals pain & inflammation after dental surgery healing of gingivitis headaches coating on legs to ward off insects warding off flies wrinkles burns diaper or heat rash kidney infection allergies blood infections female troubles Many of these remedies have been confirmed by medical people, particularly in Europe, Russia and Germany. Much of the interest lies in the fact that Aloe Vera has No Side Effects. It is important to note that the gel and juice, have powerful properties for internal use are used diluted. ----- Read about Joan Vankoughnett on our Meet the Team page; http://www.Life-Choices.com/team.html ********************************************** PLEASE VISIT OUR SPONSORS GET SKINNY FOR SPRING AND BE SEXY BY SUMMER! Enjoy personal attention, custom programs & great results! Discover if you're Body Rich or Body Bankrupt? Play The Body Bank - FREE mind, body and soul software. We're your online health & weight loss solution center. Results guaranteed or your money back! Visit us today and begin losing weight tomorrow! http://www.slimcity.com/014 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ FREE Stuff Guide Ezine A free monthly newsletter featuring links to mostly CHRISTIAN free stuff on the Internet. Not everything is Christian, but will not contradict Orthodox Christian values. Software, E-text books, games, giveaways, samples, etc. Send blank e-mail to: mailto:free_stuff_guide-subscribe@listbot.com or join up at: http://www.pencilpuzzles.com/pow.html ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Section 3 Massage Therapy As A Holistic Healing Tool for Breast Cancer and Heart Disease by Laurel Duran, CMT If it seems odd that breast cancer and heart disease would be paired together as a single health issue, I can assure you that the issues which underlie these top two American killers are as close to eachother emotionally as they are physically. In order to explain this, I'll be referring to the breasts and heart as a single energy center in the body (chakra). In my work as a massage therapist, I utilize the 12-chakra system to translate my patients' illnesses into understandable patterns of thought and feeling. In other words, if a patient has an ongoing problem with contracted energy (tension) in a certain area of her body, I can compassionately understand what life issues she is facing by applying my knowledge of what that area of her body expresses. When I share the life-issue translation of her illness with her, the patient usually sees herself through more compassionate eyes, and is more empowered to make improved life choices that grow from increased self-understanding. The primary life issue that underlies the breasts/heart chakra is simply "healing emotional conflict through private introspection and feeling". You may have noticed that in our Western industrialized culture, this theme of privately honoring emotional conflicts is NOT particularly valued. On the contrary, if a person mentions that they have engaged in viscerally feeling emotional conflict in order to release it from their body/mind/emotions, they are often judged as being "depressed" or in some way emotionally ill. The truth is that they are being emotionally healthy by temporarily undergoing this state of emotional disequilibrium for the ultimate purpose of regaining emotional balance naturally, according to the Creator's design. The word EMOTION is composed of two parts: "e" is for energy, and "motion" is what happens when we feel. By feeling emotions - in healthy, non-destructive ways - we are literally putting blocked energy in motion as it clears out of the body. When individuals with breast/heart health conditions are willing to literally feel their emotional conflicts, the energy that was formerly blocked in their breasts/heart clears out. This is a miraculous healing phenomenon to behold! Emotions are the primary component of the chakras in the body that are made of the water element. There are 3 chakras in the body composed of the water element. They are: the feet, the reproductive organs, and the breasts/heart. During a typical massage therapy session, I usually begin the session by opening the patient's (emotional) water energy flow. In this way, emotions may more easily come up and out during the session. This is a very good thing, and here's how to do it: As the patient lies draped supine (face up) on the therapy table, first make light manual contact with the two uppermost water chakras. Using one or two fingers, locate the often-tender spot just below the clavicle, and make light to moderate contact with the spot. Using the other hand, simultaneously make light contact by resting your hand gently on the pubis. While maintaining the light pressure to the pubis, you can increase or decrease the pressure of the breast/heart chakra contact. You may suggest that your patient relax and surrender into whatever she feels during these contacts. After several moments, repeat the upper hand's contact on the opposite side, applying light to moderate pressure to the tender spot just below the clavicle , while still maintaining the lower hand's pubis contact. Again, encourage the patient to relax and surrender. If you wish to be quite thorough, make contact with the lowest water chakra in the feet. You can do this by giving your patient a bit of foot massage. By doing this basic "opening water chakras" procedure you will be naturally helping the patient move blocked emotional energy stored in her body. It is very possible that the patient may begin to actually feel emotions as a result of this. I encourage you to non-judgmentally accept and allow her to simply feel her feelings. There is no need to give advice or life instructions during this opening. Simply by being receptive to her feelings, you are doing your best supportive healing work! In general I have found that the left breast/heart chakra emotion point can store sorrow, while the right breast/heart chakra emotion point can store anger and frustration. Be assured that by stimulating the natural, safe flow of emotion in your own or your patient's body, you are helping them to heal themselves from the inside out. It is very healthy for the breasts and heart, in both men and women, to allow emotional conflict to rise up and be felt. To feel is to heal, and the normal human emotions that reside in our breasts/hearts are a healing gift, not a medical curse! Tune in next month for Part 2 of this series. ----- Read about Laurel Duran on our Meet the Team page; http://www.Life-Choices.com/team.html ******************************************** PLEASE VISIT OUR SPONSORS HealthE-zine *** Your FREE 5-minute health update Each week the energetic staff of Alt-Health.com scours the Web to bring you five intriguing health article summaries and links. Subscribe & view archives: http://www.alt-health.com/signup.html Recommended by PC World Tipworld E-mail Mailing List Reviews Recommended by List Universe List-A-Day.com Review ******************************************** Do you have problems with weight loss, diabetes, heart problems, high cholesterol, high blood pressue, or tracking your daily nutrition for optimum health? Presenting the amazing NUTRICOUNTER. You are guaranteed to lose weight quickly, easily, safely and PERMANENTLY...with the amazing NutriCounter. A proper diet is vital for people with diabetes and the NutriCounter can help improve blood sugar levels. The NutriCounter is a great tool for anyone who has had a heart attack, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or history of heart related problems. For more information go to http://www.Life-Choices.com/lar/nutricounter ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This is YOUR newsletter! Share your thoughts, what you'd like to see by emailing, yourlife@life-choices.com with "Feedback Your Life-Your Choice" in the subject heading. ******************************************** Section 4 How to Reframe for Success By: Kevin L. Polk, Ph.D. The only thing that stands between you and success is a little reframing. That does not mean reframing your house or a picture. It means reframing your thoughts about the problems that you face. You take off the old mental frame and put on a new one. You've heard the phrase, "The power of positive thinking." Well positive thoughts are a lot more powerful if you use them to remove the old frame. Let's take a look at how to do that. First you need to find the old frame you have been using. That simply means finding the thoughts you have been using to frame the problem. Finding them won't be as hard as you might think. The following exercise should root out most of them. Get out a piece of paper and write down your problem. Money, relationships, something at work. Anything that's a problem. Try to be as specific as you can. For example, what do you need money for? Who are you having a problem with and what is the person doing? Which part of work bothers you? The more specific the better. Now set the sheet of paper aside and do something else for a few minutes or hours. After you have cleared your mind go back and read the problem again. As soon as you have read it, take note of how the problem makes you feel. Does it make you sad, mad, or afraid? Write down how it makes you feel. The feeling you wrote down comes from the thoughts you have about the problem. So next write down the thoughts you are having about the problem. Are you thinking, "I will NEVER make more money!" Or, "That person is mean to me ALL the time." ALL or NOTHING thoughts like these almost always lead to negative emotions. Write down every negative thought you can think of about the problem. These negative thoughts form the emotional frame you are using to solve the problem. It's okay to feel a bit sad, mad, or afraid about a problem, but eventually you need o get motivated to solve the problem. That's where the positive frame comes into play. Now go back and change every one of those negative thoughts into a positive thought. So, "I never can" becomes "Yes I can." "That person is always mean to me" becomes, "That person is nice to me sometimes, and sometimes not. I can learn how to deal with it." Literally change each negative thought you came up with into a positive one. Don't overanalyze this, just do it. When you are done, fold up the paper and stick it in your pocket. As you go through you day and you start to feel lousy about your problem, take out the paper and read the positive thoughts. The trick is to do this until the positive thoughts replace the negative ones. If you do this several times a day it will only be a short time and you will start having much more positive feelings about the problem. In other words, you will have a positive frame on your problem. Now solving it will me much easier. Here's a checklist to follow in putting a positive frame on your problems: 1. Identify and define your problem. Be specific. Write it down. 2. Identify the negative feelings you have about the problem, e.g. mad, sad, or afraid. Write them down. 3. What negative thoughts are leading to those feelings? Write them down. 4. Change those thoughts into positive thoughts about the problem. Write them down. 5. Put the sheet of paper in your pocket. 6. When you think about the problem, read the positive thoughts. Repeat until you have a positive frame of mind. This is a simple but very powerful technique. Do it and you will be conquering problems you thought were unsolvable. ----- Dr. Polk is a clinical psychologist. He and his wife offer online training in life skills. The Creative Problem Solving course is Free. Sign up at http://www.timedoctor.com/004192.htm ********** Your Life-Your Choice makes every effort to provide you with healthy recipes where the nutrition is geared towards specific health issues. If you have a recipe you'd like to share, submit it to with "recipe from YLYC subscriber" in the subject. Remember to include whatever nutritional information you can. ********** Section 5. Health Smart Recipe By Edna Laraway Low Calorie and Wonderfully Delicious Any desired quantity of mushrooms; use regular large mushrooms or for a real taste treat try Portobello Mushrooms. The flavor is unique. Rinse and wipe the tops of the mushrooms. Use vegetable spray or olive oil to lightly coat the mushrooms. Sprinkle with garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste Place on the barbeque grill on low heat for 4 to 5 minutes. Turn. (when you turn them, try to make the grill marks crisscross -looks impressive) Grill until still firm but tender, and serve on toast or on romaine leaves for an impressive side dish. Calories Fat Fibre MUSHROOMS (1 cup, 250mL) 22.74 0.31 0.96 ******* Section 6. Dear Garlic, My boyfriend loves me to death and he's going to be the death of me!! he buys me flowers almost every day, for no good reason, the problem is we live in a small apartment, so it's beginning to look like a funeral parlor, i even told him i didn't like flowers.....what did he do...bought plants! help!!! from Flower Peeves Dear Flower Peeves One of 3 things are happening here. Either: 1) this is a new relationship, and he's trying to impress. Don't worry, this phase doesn't last long. Soon he'll be following you from room to room turning off the lights to conserve energy. As soon as he starts this well known masculine type of behavior, the flowers will stop as well. 2) its a guilt offering. Take a real close look at his behaviour lately. Is he a cross dresser or wears diapers or something? Hey, don't laugh!! Just look at Jerry (Springer) to see how popular this type of behavior is becoming. They have to start somewhere! 3) He's that genuine rare find, a generous, thoughtful, and caring male whose only desire is to make you happy. If you really give it some thought, there will be an opportunity to get him to transfer this fetish into something else. Like expensive jewelry maybe. Take him by Birks and point out that darling little diamond rose or those gorgeous seed pearl earings in the shape of Daisys. Think how much longer these will last, AND they don't smell. Just re-direct this darling to a newer, better habit. It's really for his own good. Like to talk to Garlic? Yes, men are welcome too: mailto:marketing@life-choices.com put "Dear Garlic" in Subject line. Note that the Dear Garlic segment of Your Life-Your Choice is for entertainment purposes only. The advice is intended to tickle your funny bone so put your Sense of Humor hat on and let's take a look at the "lighter side" of life. After all, laughter is supposed to be the BEST medicine. ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Disclaimer All material appearing in this newsletter is provided for educational purposes only. It is provided with the understanding that authors and contributors are not offering medical advice or services. We strongly encourage you to consult with your own physician regarding any recommendations with respect to your own medical condition. Advertisement in the Your Life-Your Choice newsletter does not indicate endorsement on our part. The opinions expressed by our sponsors do not necessarily reflect our own. Our sponsors make this newsletter FREE to subscribers. 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Entrance is FREE and you will not receive any additional e-mail as a result of registering. ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// To advertise in this newsletter, visit: http://www.life-choices.com/sponsor.html or mailto:yourlife@life-choices.com SUBJECT: Send Your Choice Advertising Rates ****************** Subscribe: You can subscribe by using the form at the Newsletter Headquarters: http://www.Life-Choices.com/subscribe.html Unsubscribe: You can unsubscribe by using the form at the Newsletter Headquarters: http://www.Life-Choices.com/subscribe.html Copyright 1997-2000 by Brigitte Synesael All rights reserved ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// This Ezine Is Listed At FreeZinesOnline.